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Friday, February 17, 2012

Open Letter to San Clemente City Council - Request for Response

Before you read this, I'd just like to point out that this is DAY 17 without any nuclear power coming from San Onofre, and the lights are still on. I think maybe they need us more than we need them.

Mayor and Councilmembers,

After coming so far on the issues
surrounding nuclear power, I am deeply disappointed that none of you
took the time to even respond to our recent requests on this pressing
topic. This Tuesday’s city council meeting has a light agenda and could
have been the perfect opportunity to consider our concerns and come to
some decision in your official capacity.

Our first request was
to direct staff to look into having a Radiation Monitoring Station
in San Clemente. Secondly, we wanted you to investigate the possibility
of having an Epidemiological Study done to determine if there
are any indications that we have an unusual number of health problems
which might be related to radiation exposure. Thirdly, we simply wanted
you to participate with us in our Fukushima Remembered event to
honor those lost and still suffering from the devastating earthquake and
tsunami of 3/11/11.

I can't understand why none of these
requests measured up to the level of significance that might be worthy
of your response. We currently are awaiting the news from Edison
about how much radiation may have been released based on the extent of
damage to the new generator tubes at San Onofre. France has recently
released reports of higher incidences of cancer around nuclear power
plants, especially amongst children. Japan continues to suffer the
consequences of politicians and government agencies neglecting their
responsibilities to consider public safety above the will of the
industry. How is it that these revelations do not resonate in your
hearts and minds when your public repeatedly brings them to your
attention?

Again, we ask you to place these matters of great
concern to many of the residents of San Clemente on your next agenda.
Please find it within your fiduciary responsibility to act wisely and
swiftly. Today there was a news report in Reuters where Japan's former
Premier expressed how 3/11 changed his way of thinking about nuclear
power.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan said, “The Fukushima crisis
destroyed the myth that atomic energy is safe, cheap and clean and
prompted Japan to scrap a plan to boost its share of electricity demand
to more than half by 2030. While many technological measures can be
taken to secure safety at nuclear power plants, such measures on their
own cannot cover great risks," said Kan, sitting in front of a
calligraphy scroll inscribed with the ancient Chinese proverb "Be
Brave, But Not Reckless".

Kan's defenders say a key cause
of his downfall was his call to wean Japan from nuclear power -- a
stance popular with the public but opposed by many including politically
powerful utilities.
(see full article here)